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May 27, 2008

The Sling Stash

It's time to share your stash or favorite carriers! An awesome benefit to having several different kinds of slings is that I've really found what works best for me and it's also nice to loan them out to friends...

One sling I must have for baby is a mesh water ring sling. I have given both of mine away and must get one for the new baby! I used it almost daily in the shower when Gray was a baby!

If you are to own only one sling, I always say you need a ring sling. It's such a great carrier for newborn to toddler. Perfect for quick trips and nursing. I'm really excited to try out my wraps for the new baby. I've always thought they were more for the smaller baby stages, and it will be fun to become a pro at wrapping. Pouches- you either love them or hate them! I started out not a huge fan of the pouch but when I found the right fit- it makes all the difference! Mine are both not adjustable, but if you can swing it, I've been a fan of Rockin' Baby's adjustable pouch! Another carrier that quickly became my favorite is my mei tai. I love traditional carriers. My Free Hand is a traditional mei tai and the Baby Bisou has the appearance of a traditional carrier but has buckles- great for anyone that might not like all the straps and tying. I still use my mei tai and it probably gets as much use as the ring sling with my babies. I have found it to be the perfect way to have them nurse and nap when we're pretty much anywhere! It is also my favorite for a good back carry. The Podonbutai is a three-in-one carrier that my friend Jenn created at All Natural Mommies (she's since sold her store) but this carrier is innovative and comfy! I prefer to use it like a podaegi, but you can also wear it as a mei tai or onbuhimo.

So, what don't I have? I still wouldn't mind to try a silk sling maybe from Sakura Bloom, Oopa or one of the expensive but glorious P-slings. And it might be neat to have another podaegi.

Where to get them? The Internet is a wonderful place to shop for carriers! But some local boutiques sell slings and it's great if you can try them out before you buy. Or check out a Mom's group or La Leche League near you and hopefully you'll find some attachment-minded parents to share their sling collection with you. If you are tight on cash but really want to get a new carrier, I got my Free Hand Baby mei tai through a Mama Swap online- and you should also check out the For Sale Or Trade forum on TheBabywearer.com for any and every type of baby carrier!

Now show me yours! I'd love to see your sling stash or favorite carriers. If you post about this, please link your post only (not your main blog page) in the Linky below. And be sure to link back here so others can share as well!

I'll have to round up all my carriers when I get home. Have you tried a Moby Wrap yet? I thought wraps were better for small babies too, but my daughter will be a year old Saturday and I just bought mine 3 or 4 weeks ago. We love it! It's super-cuddly, affordable at $40, and comes in lots of different colors (mine is lavender, my favorite)! I can put it on before I leave the house and leave it on for the duration of a shopping/errand trip. No need to mess with long strips of fabric in a parking lot, just slide the baby in and you're off. Plus, it is conducive to napping for the baby.

Hey! I love your selection of wraps! I really want to try a Mei Tai style for back babywearing. Oh, and sorry I am on your list twice-please erase the second one; for some reason my works for me Wednesdays info got automatically put in and I didn't realize it until I had posted the link. Sorry!

I never really understood my baby carrier thing so I never used it with Lilla. Hopefully with this next one I can get a new sling that maybe works better for me. They are really expensive though so we'll have to see! :)

I love this post. I'm going to have to mark it for future reference. Hopefully. ;)I think the internet is my only source for getting my hands on a wrap or pouch since we don't have any funky stores in the area that sell good ones. I'm nervous about ordering the right size though. We'll see.Thanks for all the great info!

I will hav to get pics of my stash -- once it's finishedf - I have 4 wraps and 2 more slings in the works (I am SUCH a DIY-er) I would HIGHLY reccomend a Sakura Bloom sling - the shoulder is DIVINE and the linen are soft and hugable.

My bestest friend just got a Didy wrap and I SUPER love it. I can't wait to wrap this baby!

I won't do such a long post as this because well, I only have one sling and it's from slinglings.com. I had two, in two different patterns but I sent one to my friend after her baby was born. I still use it on occasion to hip carry my one-year-old. It's been VERY handy!